Wildlife

Visual communication

Visual communication transmits information to others through shape, colour and movement or body language. Animals can both send and decode visual messages, using colour and behavioural displays for messages as varied as threat, invitations to mate and identification of what species they are. Though plants can't themselves see, they use visual cues such as colour to attract animals to their flowers and fruits. Visual perception differs radically among various groups of animals, from the ability to see in low light, to detection of the slightest movement.

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The Dark: Nature's Nighttime World

Headlamp beetles are part of the click beetle family but they are click beetles with a difference - two spots on their body that glow in the dark like car headlights! The two glowing spots on the back of their body occur due to enzymes that create light - something known as bioluminescence. Scientists think they use these lights to attract a mate. However, the enzymes also produce an orange light on the underside of their body that glows as they prepare to take off, much to the amusement of insect expert Dr George McGavin.